Automatic train-pipe coupling



Feb. l0, 1931. o. H. LE COMPTE AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING Filed sept. 8. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l @wa/@ZEW Feb 10, 1931 o. H. LE COMPTE AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING Filed 59PM 8. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb.V 1o, "193i AUTOMATIC 'rnemerirn o oUrniNG e My present invention relates 'to'. train pipe couplings for vautomatically.coupling'Y of-the brake, signal and steam pipes off railway cars,`

freight and passenger, includingstreet rail- 5 wayears Vand motor bus trains, and, itis a distinct and practical improvement to overcome certain practicalobjectlons to, randdefects in, past and present types of train pipe couplings, and, ha's for an 'ob'je'c'tto improve' i0 the constructionof automatic trainvpipe couplings whichwill eifectisimultaneously with the vcoupling-'of the carcouplers, a'po'sitive leak proof automatic coupling of-all train the necessity of persons! l5 going between the cars to effect coupling the pipes, ythus Vavoiding trainpipes. With the aboveeand other objects inview,

as will be apparent from the description her-ee inafter set out, the inventioncon-sists in the i0 novel'features of construction', arrangement and combination of parts hereinaftenmor'e:

pointed out in the Y I l andthe wall is provided' with aboltjreceilving opening 6. Y Y

'fully described and finally claims hereto-appended. f Y

Referring to the accompanying ldrawings 5 forming a part of-this speciiicatiom'wherein like characters of reference denote` similar parts throughout the several views:r

Fig. Yl, isa side elevation of a portion of 'two draft couplers connected and each carry- V TQ ing an automatic train pipe "coupleri embody- Iwingfthe features of my inventio F ig. 2, is a rear end elevation Vofone of the coupler manifolds. fr f YVFig. 3,is a top plan view thereofV F ig. et, is a. detail, actualsize, ofv theforvWard end of one. of the` coupling pipes, the gasket holder, thegasket and the 'adjusting nut, showing the gasket and v'its holder in 'a j `slightly Aadvanced position from that shown intriga; w. j- .'Fig.-5, is'a front elevation ofone of the complete train pipe; couplings depending from'aidraftcoupler. Y.

vieweof one.' of the train p ipegcouplings.v

lieferringl to the drawings, the .reference character lfrepresents a pair of like' car cou-V pler heads., preferably,i although not neces'- sarily.-l of the type which'are rigidly united when in coupled relation as far'as longitudias well as -.a socket member and they are preferably in-4 the socket opening 4 1 is 'the securing Fig.V 6, ga longitudinal-vertical.sectionalV jthefproper "position in the socket l9. The 95 f nal movement'is concerned, but; capableof swinging movement? with lrelation to `their respective draw-bars to'permit carsto which they are a parte, of takingshort sharp curves, long curves without affecting the train pipe coupling-whichis thev subject matter of this application; f

A pair ofA opposed downwardlyfdirected arceshaped wings 2' are employedY to provide tegral with the bottom wall offthe coupler heads l, and these" Wings have their. lowerf' ends spaced apartfto. providea lowerV longitudinalv passage 3. `The inner faces of theopposed wings are inclined. soas toformzatapered horizontally Vdisposed gsocket.' openingVVA 4 WiderA indiameter at' its forward end than at its.rear.end, aswillbeapparentfrom Figs; V5 and 6. The rear'end ofthe upperjhalf ofV closed by means of is integral with the Wall o f'each coupler a rear stop wall 5 which` wings Qand the bottom e reference character 7r represents a manifold. The manifold is a hollow memoer having its upper end 4 provided witha suitable enlarged head 8 having a tapered e peripheral face 9.. The tapered head V8 is receivable inthe vtapered socket v*opening L 'The front and reaivwalls 10 andll of the manifold .are provided .with aligned .open-` e j ings l2 in the headsectionffor receiving a suitably headed boltlfwhichy also Vpasses through the opening 6in therear vstop wall 5 and provided with-a split washerfM and nuts. 15 and lo for :lockingthe `manifold againstlongitudinal kdisplac,ement in the'- taperedsocket 9. A suitable setV screw 17 vprovided with alock nut 18 is carried byv leach gwing 2 in .opposed 'relation'. for engaging the tapered peripheral9=faceof the head YStoy lock themanifoldheadnagainshrotary displacement after .it has* been adjusted `to The tiene endfeeefmiie ef nie meaifeid .160'V 7 are also provided withthe opposed sets 'of openings 19, 2O and 21, which openings are arranged one below he other -in suitable spaced relation and in alignment, preferably with the center of the head 8, asY shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The openings 19, 2O and 21'are'V adapted to receive thejfhorizontally ,disposedfcoupling as' shown in Fig. 6, the front pipesl 22, 23 and 24, respectively, which" ,pipes are screw threaded each end andY threaded ends are designed 252;

such screw and 26. A. coupling pipe socket member .7 havingfa reduced internally :screwv threaded nipple 28 has screw `threaded engagement with the forward screw threaded end 25 of each coupling pipe 22, 231and 2.4, asvclearly shown fin Fig. 6. VThe nipple 28 of each lcoupling .pipe socket member 27 is alsoezikternally screw threaded, as at 29, to receive a. suitable jam nut 30, the rear face yof which .is adapted for 'engagement with the front face of thefront wall 10 of the manifold, as'clearly shown in Fig. 6. When the socket member 27 is'in its reaiwardmost position,

nut 30 will engage theshoulder Vv31 of the coupling pipe socket member 27. Y

The forward endof each Vcoupling pipe socketmember 27 is provided with a sockety opening 32 having a slightlyV tapered wall for rendering such opening greater in ldiam- -r eter at 4its rear end than'at its forward end,

` rihe rear screw th 'longitudinal displacement of as will be .'apparentin Figs; 4 and 6v of the drawings.` i

A suitable packing member or gasket couplingterminal 33 is receivable in the rearwardly and outwardly tapered socket opening 32 of each Vcoupling pipe socket member 27, as clearlyV shown in Fig..4, and are 4each provided with a Ycentral lopening 34 for receiving a metallic sleeve 35 having a vbore of the same diameter as the bore of the coupling pipes 22,23 and 24, respectively. rlhe vtrain pipe coupling 24, whichis preferably used for steam, is preferably largeil in diameter than the 4pipes22 and 23, which -are used for air, for the air brakes and air signals, respectively.V 1 Y eaded endv of each coii pling pipe 22, 23 and 24,'is provided with the jam nut 36 and the lock nut 37 to prevent the coupling pipes relative to its respective lmanifold and the forward face of itsmrespective car eoupler. Y

Ithreaded nipple the distance .thatvit isdesired to advance vthe gasket c-oupling vterminal 33, asclearly face of the set screws, jam nuts train pipe coupling car coupler Y'heads -couplingpipe elements,

to which the trainpipes,

justment movements of the manifold rcla- .tive to the couplerhead by coming into contact with the lower ends of the arc shaped socket walls 2, as will be apparent from Fig. 5, of the drawings.

It will be herevobserved' that the forward ends of the gasket coupling terminals extend a suitable` distance beyond the front plane of their gasket holders, or sockets, so as to allow for suitable amount of compression of the same during coupling operations topro- Avide tight joints or connections between the engaged gasket terminals when two cars are coupled together to prevent air and steam leakage and to provide perfect electrical contacts when electric circuits are employed.

lnk cases where the gasket coupling terminals have become worn or otherwise shortened in length, it willbe evident, from Figs.

4 and 6, ofthe drawings,*that the lock nut 37 and the jamnut 36 areloosened or ybacked upon the pipes 22, 23 or 24 and then the adjusting am nut 3() is backed up on the screw 28 of the socket member 27 illustrated in Fig. 4, so asgto kbring its outer vface into ythekproper relation -with the front -planeV of the coupler head :so that when-the coupler heads are connected there will beV a tight union or joint formed between two opposedengaged gasket coupler terminals'33, as clearly vshown in Fig.- 1.

From 'the foregoing description and the illustrations, it isV apparent thatl provide extremely simplemeans of inexpensive construction which willoperate or function,-with absolute certainty under all ordinary conditions, to automatically couple all of the train `line' pipeswith the coupling 'of the coupler;

heads, such as the air pipes for braking and signal purposes, the steam pipes for heating purposes` and conductor terminals where electriccircuits are employed for lighting,

heating and cooling purposes, and, that I further provide a train pipecoupling whichvco` acts with the coupler heads as a distinct structure andis provided with `means-for their ready relation, which means includes bolts, and lock nuts foreachy for adjusting thetrain pipe coupling elements with relationv to' the and each of the train line coupling terminals with relationtothe maniespecially the gasket fold andthe front face fof theirlrespective 1 coupling headc y Y The many advantages ofthe herein described invention will ;readily suggest fthemselves to those skilledin'the Yartto which it 'appertains' I do not wishto be understood as having limited myself toithe detailsof construction shown and `describedbutdesire to have it understood that the invention I have shown in the Vdrawings is merelyy illustrative, as it .is

-manifest that various minor changes may bem'ade in the enact construction and particular ariangement'of parts without'departing from the spirit of my ini/'entiomhence l reserve the right to make any such changes,

or modifications as may fairlyfall within the scope of the appended claims when fairly construed. K n

That l claim is: j l. n a trainpipe coupling, in Vcombination with al draft coupler, a socket member dependingfionithe lower face of the draft coupler and having a conical socket, saidV socket member having its wall provided with a cutaway-fY portion at its lower s1de,a stop wall at the rear end of said socket having anv Yopening therein, a manifold member having a conical shaped head receivable in the afore said socket and ay body portion directed down! f wardly from said head and passing through thecutaway portion of the socket member,

locking means carried upon opposite sides of the socket member and engaging the conical head,` shoulders at the upper end of said body to limit rotary -displacementof said head within its sockettoprevent displace ment of said manifold member from an' adjusted position, and a plurality of train pipe coupling connections adjustably carriedby' Vsaid Vmanifold. member. f

2; ln a train pipe coupling,a pipe externail i screw` threaded'at opposite ends adapt ed "to be supported by a 'manifold member and har-Jing itsA screw threadedA ends projecting beyond opposite faces V,of the manifold member, a-socket member having rearwardly taperedend socket,'an internally and externally screw threaded nipple forming a part of vthesocket member eonnectedto the outer screw threaded end of said `pije'an adjusting am nut having screw threaded engagement with the external screw threads of said nippleand engaging the outer face of the manifold member, a jam nut having screw threaded engagement with the inner 'screw threaded the opposite face Vof the'manifold member',

a lock nut having screw threaded-engagementJ threaded end of the vpipe with the inner screw and engaging am nut, a compressihle gasket coupling terminal havin" opening receivable the rearw.

endV socket of the socket member,

lly tap vred a metallic anu. a portion il and its pending from the lower face of thedraft coupler and havinga horizontally disposedl end of the pipe an d engaging i a Y central :conical socket, saidlsocket-having its wall provided with aA cutaway portion at ,itsI lower side to provide a longitudinal passage, a hol-` low manifold member having a cylindrically shaped head mounted in theaforesaid socket `and a bodyl portion Vdirected downwardlyV Vfroml said head and passing through saidv passage which is widerthan the'l depending portion of them'anifold, means for locking the manifold in an adjustedposition against lateral'rocking displacement, a plurality of coupling pipes v passing through openings inl said manifold, a holder Acarried by thefor-v -ward end of each coupling pipe, agasketv for each holder, means forj longitudinally 'adwf justing said pipes to bring vthe gaskets to a,

position-that will'causethe front faces therev lof to assumel a position in a plane with the Y front face of their respective 'draftcoupler face` when compressed and meansfor locking Vvsaidcoupler pipes in their adjusted positions i and against longitudinal displacement.

4. In a train pipe coupling, Vin combina.

tion with a dra-ft coupler, a socket lmember depending fromthe lower face of the draft coupler and having av horizontally disposed.l

conical socket, said socket having its 'wall provided withacutaway portion at its lower side to kprovide a longitudinal-passage, a stop wall at the upper rear end of saidk socket, a'

fastening member 'passing longitudinally through the head of said manifoldand' anv opening in saidY stop wall', lateral'lyfdisposed 'fastening devices for holding fthe manifold head against rotary displacement, coupling: pipe ,carriedV by :said manifold member, al vhold v`member f having screw threaded `en-l g'agement with theforward endoff'said pipe, a gasket-carried bysaid holder, a ring member carried in the,- opening of saidfgasket, a

nut having screw threadedy engagement with the rear end of said holder and having its irear face in engagement with the front face of the manifoldmember, and means *havingV screw threaded engagement withV the rear end H110 i l of the coupling pipe and engagementwith the Y rear face ofthe manifold member to prevent longitudinal displacement of the coupling pipe with relation to the manifold.

'5.1111 a train pipe coupling, incomb'inati'on with va draft couplena socket member depending fromthe lower-face ofthe-draft j coupler and: having a horizontally-disposed l conical socket, said socket having its wall'K provided with a' cutaway portion' at its lower. side to providera longitudinalpassage, ahol` low manifold member havinga. cylindricallyrv lshaped headmounted in the aforesaid socket;

and ab'ody portion directed ,downwardly from said lhead'and passing through-said pastion of the manifold, means forV lockingV said `sage Whichis wider than the depending por l manifold head against longitudinal displace' l ment with relation tothe draft coupler, means Vfor locking the manifold headlagainst rotaryV lado displacement, a plurality of coupling pipes carried by said manifold member, a holder adjustably carriedk at the forward end of cach coupling pipe, a gasket'carried by each n' holder with its front face normally slightly in advance of the plane of the front face of the draft coupler and means for locking said cou-V manifold member having a eylindricallyshaped here d mounted in the aforesaid socket and a body portion directedl downwardly from said head and passing-through said passage which is wider than the depending, portion of the manifold and means to prevent lat-V eral rocking displacement of said manifold A from an ad] usted position. y n T. n a train pipe coupling, `in combination with draft coupler, :i socket member depending from the loi. i coupler and having' a hc iontally disposed conical cket, said socket' having its wall provided with a cutaway portion at its lower side to provide a longitudinal pass rre, a hollow manifold member having,r cy ndricaliy shapedhead mounted in the aforesaid socket and a body portion directed downwardl from said head and passingl through said passage which is wider'than the depending portion ofthe mani-fold, meansto prevent longitudinal displacement of the-manifold relative totliesocket and ineans'to prevent rotary Vmovement of the head witliinthe socket from an adjiusted position.

from s id head and passing' through said pas,-

- the manifolr, the body Yof the maniford de ding from the head ,having its tvV 4of spaced, opposed j vertu ally aligned openings adaptedto receive trani pipe con- .if-tionsn stop shouldersV at the yunction of -,i i r'i Ly. i f anw w71 't' t :tiene w ii t n. cope-rains oca; poraon Aof the n'ianiiold, means to prevent lo fr Ludial displacement of the manifold hear1 socket member and means rto prevent` rotary, movement of the manifold head Vin the socket Y member.Y

coupling in combination v S. in a train pipe coupling', inv confibina-L and body portion directed downwardlyv sage which is wider Vthan the depending por-V rear walls providedwith a plui .9. in airain pipecouplino', in combination with a draft coupler, a. socket member deiendino' from the lower face of the draft coupler and having a horizontally*disposed conical socket, said socket havingr its wall provided with a cutaway portion at its lower side to provideva longitudinal passage, a hol-l i'caded pipe adapted to freely passthrougjh oposodopenings in the walls of the mania socket member having` an internally externally screw threaded nipple conted. to the forward end of said pipe, an

Le manifold, a jam nut carried by c end of said pipe andengaging d, lock nut carried bythe pipe and engagjf; ng said janinut, said socket niemberhavinp; a socket opening' provided with a 'slightly tapered wall, a gasket coupling terminal disposed in said socket and extending beyond the front face of the socket meinber and a m'etalliesleeve within said gasket coupling terminal. Y Y i i n testimony whereof, l have' hereunto si gned my name tothe specification.

ONESIME yH. LE COMPTE.

displacement saidmanifold from ai ,usted position, an externally screw iam nut carried by said nipple and 

